I was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug long ago. Many of my ancestors were entrepreneurs. Bakers, automotive, and even an Alaskan gold rush participant! In my teens, I delivered newspapers, mowed lawns, shoveled sidewalks, etc. In college, I had several side hustles including lifeguarding, bartending, and working in an orchard. In my 20s, I started a team sporting goods business which I sold after becoming a high school math teacher.
Lately, I have been reminiscing more about my old entrepreneurial lifestyle. Even though I explore all legitimate opportunities, with just 3 years until retirement, I would be foolish to change careers. Besides, I kinda like what I do. Although I had created a few online math courses on my original site Planet Numeracy, my primary source of income there is now tutoring. Executive Function Coaching is also in the works, but it’s still trading time for money.
As a result, I have become curious about “passive income” businesses — blogging, building profitable online courses (for myself and others), writing ebooks, podcasting, affiliate marketing, YouTubing, etc. I guess I am working toward what writer Jeff Goins calls my portfolio life. Emilie Wapnick calls it being a multipotentialite. Derek Halpern would say I’m a “Jack of all Trades.” Or maybe I still just don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!
Whatever you call it, I am pulled toward this laptop lifestyle for its time freedom. I am a life-long learner, so I’m not afraid to invest in my own non-traditional education. I have taken blogging courses, podcasting courses, YouTubing courses, real estate courses, and I read investment newsletters like Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor. At age 54, I am still discovering what matches my DNA — a Gary Vaynerchuk analogy from his book Crush It! But I am exploring all these business ideas at some level. David Garland calls it the age of mediapreneurs.
Another thing I have learned? Millionaires have (on average) seven income streams. That is, people don’t strike gold with one idea. Rather, they earn small amounts from various profit centers. I think the challenge with starting any business is having the patience to learn them each one at a time, and the perseverance to stay with each one long enough to see whether it can make money.
So stay tuned!